Imaging Physics & Engineering

Medical imaging remains a challenging area of research. The past 20 years have seen a revolution in our ability to look inside the body to detect disease and for scientific study. The Imaging Physics and Engineering group is dedicated to developing novel imaging technologies and to improving the information that can be obtained from these. Such improvements continue to have a major impact on the diagnosis and management of disease and in the study of disease processes. We are most focused on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), but also work with Ultrasound and other non-invasive approaches. The group consists of scientists, engineers and computer scientists working closely with collaborators from medicine, biology and other science based groups. We explore and develop new technologies, methods and computational algorithms for image acquisition and data analysis. Areas of interest include fetal imaging, dynamic imaging of the heart and blood vessels, exploration of novel magnetic materials for imaging technologies of the future, development and exploitation of multi-channel systems for faster imaging and for combating artefacts caused by patient motion during scanning sessions, image analysis and use of distributed computing to allow large scale collaborations between different centres engaged in multi-centre and multi-disciplinary work, safety studies modelling effects of time varying magnetic fields on the human body. The group has thrived on collaborative research and tries to maximally exploit the opportunities of having physical scientists embedded in a biomedical environment.

This group explores the science and technology of medical imaging. Developments in imaging can have far reaching benefits for medical diagnosis, treatment guidance and monitoring, and as a scientific tool for exploring the both structure and function in living systems. We primarily work on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and are interested in extracting more and/or higher quality information by using novel technologies, techniques and algorithms for data acquisition and processing. We also have interests in Ultrasound imaging research and in emerging computational methods that allow data analyses and collaborative working between individuals and groups that have hitherto been impossible or completely impractical. The group installed the first cryomagnet-based system in the world and continues to implement new systems, coils, pulse sequences, image processing techniques and other methods for improving imaging and spectroscopy. A typical problem we are currently working on is imaging the fetal brain. The aim is to achieve high resolution 3D images of the developing human brain in utero using completely non-invasive methods in a time frame that is tolerable for the mother. The challenge arises from the movement of both the mothers abdomen and the fetus within it, which limits conventional approaches to obtaining snapshot slices that provide incomplete and inconsistent coverage of the brain. Using a combination of knowledge of the MRI acquisition process and advanced computational techniques we have achieved anatomical images that rival results conventional brain imaging of sedated neonates. Our methods are now being tested in clinical research. Early results suggest that this type of imaging could contribute to clinical care of problem pregnancies as well as providing a new observational window on a critical phase of human brain development. A key research opportunity is in exploring the effects of preterm birth on brain development. Other research interests include exploration of novel meta-materials with exotic magnetic properties that may form part of a next generation scanner technology, multi-channel MRI systems and their application to improving MR Images particularly by combating artefacts caused by patient motion, acceleration of imaging by exploiting data redundancy in dynamic imaging studies, and safety studies modelling effects of time varying magnetic fields on the human body. The group has extensive collaborations with clinical and scientific colleagues both within the CSC and Imperial as well as at other universities and in industry. This allows rapid exploitation of new developments and supports a wide ranging interdisciplinary research programme. Funding is broadly based, from the MRC, other UK research councils, charities and industry. Research output leads to scientific publications, patents and recently a spinout company, IXICO that provides image analysis services to the Pharmaceutical industry.